Rolls Royce Merlin Engine

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by Jonathan Ball, Sep 16, 2010.

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  1. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Just a hypothetical question...

    Was in discussion with a few mates at work and were talking about Spitfire's. If you were to construct a replica Spitfire today (and that must cost a small fortune) how much would a Merlin Engine cost to purchase from e.g a private collector or museum?

    I know it's a daft question but there are half a dozen of us who would love to know!

    Cheers

    Jonathan
     
  2. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

  3. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

  4. phylo_roadking

    phylo_roadking Very Senior Member

    Jonathon, it's worth perhaps noting that there are a couple of firms in the USA and at least one French one IIRC that actually DO market 4/5s or 2/3s scale replicas of the Spitfire....but they certainly don't use Merlin engines!
     
  5. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

  6. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

  7. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    I see Guy Martin may have joined the 'pleasing loons' I mentioned earlier.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_A9m21drwY

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dQ5Bor1GMo

    Not that he wasn't quite a pleasing loon already...


    Ah, couple of quotes from the man.
     
    SteveDee likes this.
  8. RAFCommands

    RAFCommands Senior Member

    Just over a grand for most of the bits to make a cosmetically repaired crash damaged engine fit for static display.

    The innards are keeping the ground runners going.

    Regards
    Ross
     

    Attached Files:

    von Poop likes this.
  9. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Sheds, can be marvellous places.
     
  10. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

  11. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

  12. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

  13. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

  14. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    That's how the first Meteor tank engines came about, isn't it?

    Recovered Merlins were no longer considered fit for airplanes but OK for other uses.
     
  15. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Here's his Merlin powered Bentley. He's almost finished building a Merlin two seat roadster on a Rolls Royce chassis.

     
    Tolbooth and canuck like this.
  16. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Jay has the best toys.
     
  17. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    Production of the Merlin ceased in 1950.In those days in the RAF there were abundant spare engines.Over the years as the piston engine equipped aircraft declined in favour of the jet equipped aircraft,I would think that many engines who failed to be disposed of for aviation use went to disposal contractors who if they could not find a market for the engines sent them to the breakers yard.

    From my recollection in the early 1950s they always seemed to fail on long range detachments to the Middle East or Far East.In those days the RAF had multi staging posts from Gib through Malta,Libya,The Canal Zone,Habbanya Pakistan,India,Singapore and on to Hong Kong and there were always reports of replacement Merlins being flown out for engine changes to these staging posts.

    (As an aside I have being looking at Dave's posting of the technical reports into the loss of Halifax LL 505 which draws some interesting statistics of the piston engine,in this case the Merlin XX.)
     
  18. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Looks like Leno finished his Rolls. Can't wait to see one of his videos on it. It looks even better than his Bentley. License plate says "WW2 V12" :)

     
  19. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Here it is. Stunning.

     
  20. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

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